Dreaming of a White Christmas Tree

I have been dreaming of a white Christmas tree for as long as I can remember.  I think they're beautiful.  My hubs grandmother had one.  Looking at old Christmas photos, I've always loved that sweet, little white tree in the background.  So this year I goodwilled (yes- it's a verb) my old-falling-apart-Big-Lots-green-fake tree and saved my money to buy a new glorious all white one!

Let me introduce you.

She's so bright and cheery!  It was love at first sight.  She came from the land of Lowes, and she's pre-lit!  You have no idea how happy that one thing makes the hubs.  I was planning to deck her out in metallics with lots of natural elements - think gold, silver, and bronze with branches from the yard and a few unfinished wood tags with words on them - joy, peace, noel.  Yeah, clearly I didn't put a ton of a thought into it or anything.  ;)  Anyhow, the kiddies stepped in with a color intervention, and my metallic dreams went out the window.  I love it though.  Every color just pops against the white.

I had so much fun watching the kids hang the ornaments.  I did have to rearrange a few after they went to bed.  One branch isn't really made to hold 15 ornaments is it?  I should have taken pictures before rearranging.  Those pics would have been priceless!

I did get one part of my metallic dream with this gold chain garland.

It's actually cathedral chain from the hardware store.

What I love most about our tree are the ornaments that have a special meaning to us.

It's probably a safe bet that not many people have a Chinese food ornament on their tree.  Our first date, the hubs proposal, and our wedding rehearsal dinner all happened at the same Chinese restaurant - Peking Dragon in Dana Point, CA - so yeah, I think it deserves a spot on our tree.  ;)

Apart from the fact that I love silhouettes, this ornament is really special to me because it was hand cut by the same lady that did mine when I was a kid!

My mom bought me these fun ornament hooks, and I love the whimsy they add.

I decided to use a leopard throw for a tree skirt.  It ties in with White Beauty's fedora and it makes me happy.  They got bright colors - I got a leopard tree skirt-  even steven.  ;)

It looks best at night.

Don't you just love this time of year?

*Linking up at all the great tree parties!  Come join the fun!